Tag Archives: Andrea Bargnani

by | May 6, 2013 · 12:42 pm

Colangelo’s Future a Matter of Perspective

Sometime in the coming days Raptors current GM and President Bryan Colangelo will sit down with the new man in charge at MLSE and plead his case for being allowed to continue as the man in charge of Canada’s only NBA basketball team.

No matter what side of the argument you are on it is hard to ignore Colangelo’s credentials and impossible to forget the last 5 years in Toronto without playoff basketball.

Some will argue he is the best man out there for the job and his recent moves in acquiring Rudy Gay and drafting Jonas Valanciunas have the ship pointed in the right direction, while others will point to his failures to get this team over the hump and that fresh blood is needed to take this team  to new heights.

There are two arguments when it comes to Colangelo and his future in Toronto:

The Glass is Half Full

Bryan Colangelo wasn’t able to build a winner around Chris Bosh, but since CB4′s departure for the beaches of Miami he has done an adequate job putting together a young, exciting core.  The young players on the team right now from Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, Amir Johnson and Rudy Gay seem to indicate that this team is on the cusp of playoff basketball.  In fact, the optimist would argue that if not for  losing 12 out of 13 games in Nov/Dec they would have been right in the mix for the 7th and 8th spot in this year’s playoffs.

Colangelo knows how to draft talent.  He caught hellfire for drafting Jonas Valanciunas with the 5th pick two years ago and there is not one person who would argue with that pick today.  Valanciunas is one of the better young big men in the league and the sky appears to be the limit for him.  Most GM’s wouldn’t have had the courage to take Jonas at that spot, Bryan did.  His drafting of DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross, Quincy Acy and Ed Davis have all resulted in serviceable NBA talent.  His drafting record is better than most GM’s out there.  The only major blemish on his resume is the drafting of Andrea Bargnani first overall in 2006, though that was the same year the big Italian helped the Raptors win and Atlantic division championship.

Colangelo cleans up the mess he creates and constantly looks to improve his team.  He was creative when adding talent to lineup with Chris Bosh in his tenure here and has been fairly successful in acquiring young talent and manageable contracts since Bosh departed.  The Raptors are not handcuffed by the NBA salary cap and have flexibility to add talent and make trades.  There are no “untradeable contracts” on this current roster.

With the addition of Rudy Gay the Raptors now possess a big name talent that can recruit other top-notch players here and one that can finally be depended on in crunch time.  Since Gay was added to the roster, the team has begun to find itself and gel.  The Raptors were one of the better teams in the closing weeks of the season. The team seemed to finally “click” and looked like a team that could compete in the Eastern Conference.  Given a full year of this young squad the raptors are likely playoff contenders.

If the Raptors go out there and take a look, there aren’t many who can do the job Colangelo can.  He has built an interesting young team and should be allowed to see the fruits of his labour.  The Raptors are a team that need a little bit more time to gel and build on the success they finished the 2012-13 campaign on.

Colangelo's fate President and GM of the Raptors will be decided this week.

Colangelo’s fate President and GM of the Raptors will be decided this week.

The team that Bryan has built is one on the rise, he deserves another year to see it reach the heights it is capable of.

The Glass is Half Empty

Colangelo has been in charge of the Raptors for seven seasons and has not seen the 2nd round of the playoffs once. Yes, he led this team to an Atlantic division championship in his first year on the job, but failed miserably to build a contender around star Chris Bosh.  He then failed to get anything of value for Bosh, whom he knew was leaving as a free agent.

Since Bosh left he hasn’t made any significant progress.  Yes he acquired Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry, but in a difficult Eastern Conference this team appears to be a treadmill team at best.  This young squad does not match up against the elite teams in the East and never will with this collection of players as its “core”.

Other than Jonas Valanciunas, Colangelo has never acquired an elite young player that could be considered a future star.  Amir Johnson is great, Rudy Gay is interesting, DeMar DeRozan is pretty okay. Name one of those players (other than Rudy) that would be a starting player on one of the top four Eastern Conference teams.

Then there is Bargnani.  Whether it is fair or not Colangelo will forever be judged by the Bargnani draft pick.  It was the franchise’s one and only first overall pick and it has been, simply put, a colossal failure.  Colangelo went against traditional logic to choose Bargnani. Though he looked like a future star after year one, other than a few months in the 2010-11 season, he hasn’t been able to become the star the Raptors need.  In recent years he’s been injured and when he is on the court he doesn’t rebound, hangs out on the three-point line and doesn’t seem to put in the necessary effort to succeed in the league.

The failures of Bargnani, fair or not, are directly tied to the future of Bryan Colangelo.

Pimply put, Colangelo should be judged on playoff performance. Any other GM who misses the playoffs for five years in a row and has a collection of players that may or may not compete for the 8th spot in the East (if their really, really good) doesn’t deserve to keep their job.

In closing, the Colangelo dilemma is a difficult one with solid arguments on both sides of the issue, but in the end it will be left in the hands of new MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke to decide whether this is a team on the rise or one that has already reached the heights of which it is capable.

Based on the success Leiweke has had in his career with the Kings, Galaxy and Lakers he is a guy Raptor fans should trust with this decision, no matter which way he goes.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | April 4, 2013 · 10:42 pm

Colangelo’s Future a Murky One

One of the biggest questions heading into this coming offseason for the Raptors and their ownership is what exactly they are going to do with GM Bryan Colangelo.

Though he is highly respected within MLSE and has a very high-profile around the league, the results he has been able to achieve on the court have been a “mixed bag” at the best of times.

He did bring the Raptors their only Atlantic Division championship and did manage to manoeuver his way around some terrible contracts and big acquisitions that didn’t work out.  He’s drafted well and is well-respected around the league. This season he liftedn the veil on the Raptors front office to create two highly successful television programs in Behind the Draft and Open Gym that have earned league-wide praise.

These shows may not seem like a big deal to the average fan, but both have raised the profile of the Raptors around the league and have likely helped to earn Colangelo a few “brownie points” with the “bigwigs” in the League offices.  This type of positive standing around the league doesn’t really do anything for the product on the court, but it can definitely have positive impacts for the ownership.

Bryan Colangelo doesn't have a contract for next season and there is no guaranteel that the Raptors will bring him back.

Bryan Colangelo doesn’t have a contract for next season and there is no guaranteel that the Raptors will bring him back.

On the flip side Colangelo hasn’t gotten great results where it counts.  The Raptors, under Colangelo, haven’t made the playoffs in the past five years and he has given the fan base in the city no real reason to believe that the playoff drought will end anytime in the near future.

So what exactly should the team do with their high-profile man in charge?

On one hand there is little doubt that Colangelo has shown himself to be one of the classiest executives in the business over his career. He has been part of winning franchises and has proven to be a winner elsewhere. He managed the Phoenix Suns very well and was able to make a number of big moves that thrust that franchise into the championship conversation year in and year out.

Since arriving in Toronto he has taken a number of different approaches to winning.  He was one of the first to really invest heavily in players playing overseas, signing a number as free agents in his first tenure (Garbajosa, Anthony Parker) and drafting one first overall (Bargnani).  He has tried to make big free agent acquisitions (Hedo Turkoglu) and he has shown that he isn’t afraid to make a big trade (Jermaine O’neal, Rudy Gay).

None of these game game plans have worked to a positive conclusion.  While it isn’t clear what his next course of action is one would have to assume it will involve Rudy Gay and Jonas Valanciunas as the core moving forward. Depending on your outlook this core might seem promising or not quite enough to compete for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Still, he has shown an uncanny ability to fix the mistakes that he makes.  When he was in Phoenix he was quickly able to turn the trade of Jason Kidd for Stephon Marbury back into his favour.  By acquiring Penny Hardaway he created capspace for himself to sign eventual two time MVP Steve Nash. The result was a solid run for the franchise.

Here in Toronto he quickly turned the hated Rafael Araujo into the serviceable Kris Humphries. He made a huge commitment to Hedo Turkoglu, which turned out to be a disaster, but then moved him to Phoenix for a dependable Leandro Barbosa and saved money in the process.

He is one of the best GM’s at fixing his own mistakes.  What Raptor fans have to ask, is whether they want to let him make any more.

Another plus working for Colangelo is that he is not a “stand pat” kind of general manager.  He never has been and never will be.  Colangelo takes risks.  He signs players he believes in and isn’t afraid to move confidently in a direction others may disagree with.  Drafting Andrea Bargnani was a shrewd move as was his decision to draft Jonas Valanciunas with the 5th overall pick two years ago. The two decisions have worked out differently, but you cannot say that he isnt afraid to take risks.

Obviously, as fans, you want every risk Colangelo takes to turn to gold, but the fact that he isn’t afraid to do what he feels is right for the team is an admirable trait.  Hopefully his most recent risk of acquiring Rudy Gay turns out like many of his others.

Colangelo’s risks have also earned him the ire of the fan base in Toronto at times.  He chose not to trade Chris Bosh before his free agency and did not receive any compensation for the teams franchise player.  His drafting and subsequent handling of Andrea Bargnani has incensed Raptor followers and may well be the reason he is ultimately let go this summer.

While Colangelo has made his fair share of mistakes in his time as GM of the Raptors and there are plenty of reasons to look to a new GM in the fall, the question remains: who out there is better? Who would you bring in that could do a better job?

Do you simply get rid of a quality GM because he hasn’t got the job done? or do you wait until someone better for the job emerges?  Colangelo doesn’t have the results.  This year, like the four before it, will end in disappointment and missed opportunities.  But if you let Colangelo go, you have to replace him with someone better suited for the job, someone more likely to get results.

If not Colangelo, then who?

I am as disappointed with this season as anyone.  I miss playoff basketball, hell I miss the possibility of playoff basketball.  Losing stinks and under Colangelo we have done our fair share of losing.  But there are a lot of positives in place with this team going forward.  A young core, a potential star to build around and tradeable assets that can be used to help improve this team.  Colangelo has shown over his career that he can swing a big deal to maximize the value of the player being traded.

So maybe he should stay for one more “playoffs or bust” season.

Colangelo’s fate has not yet been sealed and the decision to keep him around or not is not going to be as easy as it may seem.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 4, 2013 · 11:26 pm

The Future is Now for Valanciunas and Ross

One of the most frustrating patterns over the Raptors recent decent down the standings and out of the playoff race has to be the way Dwane Casey has set his rotations and how the Raptors rookies don’t seem to have found a consistent role.

Everyone knows DeMar and Rudy are gonna play big minutes, that’s a given.  I can even accept that Andrea Bargnani has a place in the lineup for defensive matchups and maybe to provide an offensive spark off the bench or increase his trade value, but where in the world have Terrence Ross and Jonas Valanciunas been?

Jonas came to Toronto this season with huge expectations and though he hasn’t asserted himself as  a rookie of the year candidate, he has looked very good at times this season.  His offensive game is starting to come around and he’s rebounding the ball better.  He still needs to work on developing better chemistry with his teammates on offense and covering his man better on D.

The time for Jonas Valanciunas to get more playing time is now. With the playoffs in the rearview mirror, Jonas needs to be allowed to play more and develop further for next season.

The time for Jonas Valanciunas to get more playing time is now. With the playoffs in the rearview mirror, Jonas needs to be allowed to play more and develop further for next season.

He’s not gonna improve without consistent playing time. It’s not only minutes he needs (which admittedly have been increasing), but minutes against tough opponents for extended periods of time at key points in the game.  Everytime he bites on a pump fake, he learns.  Every time he doesn’t move his feet and has to foul, he learns. Everytime he loses his man late in the game, he learns.  Not easy to watch that sort of thing if you’re a coach, but necessary for Jonas at this late stage in the year.

Since his return February 1st against the Clippers he is averaging just over 21 minutes per game.  This isn’t a terrible number, but Jonas has seen very limited action in the fourth quarter, something he needs if he is to be depended on next year when the Raptors are, theoretically, fighting for playoff position.

This is also a very different team than the one he started the year with.  Jonas needs to develop chemistry with starting point guard Kyle Lowry and needs to see how he fits into an offensive and defensive system that now includes Rudy Gay as the focal point.

Terrence Ross, too has seen his minutes cut inexplicably.  Since the All-Star break Ross is averaging six minutes per game.  That number is crazy considering the strong first half he put up and the need for better three-point shooting of late.  Ross has had some struggles with his shot recently, but there is absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t be getting more burn behind DeRozan and Rudy.

With the Raptors, essentially out of playoff contention, what possible harm could come from giving these two important pieces of your future more minutes to learn? Next year starts now, Even if increasing their playing time means watching them make mistakes.

This past week Jonas has begun to see more court time and has played quite well.  His numbers have been good, but more importantly he’s playing with more fire and energy.  He’s beginning to learn what these late-season games are all about. That can only help the Raptors in their quest for the playoffs next year.  Jonas will be battle tested for the fight it will take to make the playoffs next year. Why not leave him in there longer?

Ross however, has not seen much court time since his slam dunk winning performance during All-star weekend.  He’s been brought in very sparingly and then pulled before he is able to get anything going.  For the last few games he has been treated as, mostly, a ‘garbage time’ replacement.  That’s not good enough for a player, who appears to be a significant part of the future for this ball club and one who needs to work through his current shooting issues.

I get being tough with young players.  In many ways, I respect that Casey is being tough with the rookies, but he needs to give them a little room for error at this point in the season.

Changes are coming in Toronto this summer, that is to be sure.  Bryan Colangelo (or his replacement) will not sit  by and allow the Raptors to stall and miss the playoffs for another year.  The playoffs are close, perhaps closer than we give this team credit for and moves will be made to ensure a stronger run next season.

Ross and Jonas will very likely be part of the Raptors core moving forward. It is therefore imperative that they see the court as much as possible these next few weeks.  It would be absolutely ludicrous to give minutes to players like Alan Anderson or Aaron Gray instead when they, likely, do not figure into the Raptors future plans.

Casey has been starting Jonas for much of the past week, but is quick to pull him out when he gets into foul trouble and then doesn’t go back to him later in the game.  At some point Casey is going to have to show confidence in Jonas and let him play through his struggles.  If not now, when? This is your starting centre next year, let him play through struggles. Use this time as a teaching opportunity

Both Jonas and Ross are far too integral to the Raptors future to be getting DNP-CD’s or to be pulled in favour of veterans at this point in the season.

With the season, in many ways over, it’s time to look to next year.  Forget the Let Ross Dunk campaign, it might be time for a Let Ross Play one instead.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 19, 2013 · 4:22 pm

Crunch Time for Raptors

It is getting down to the point in the season where the Raptors are going to have to make a move in the standings now, if they hope to catch up to a playoff spot.  With four consecutive losses now, the last 2 in heartbreaking fashion, and a number of key injuries, the Raptors are really going to have to dig deep to find the will to win.

On Friday night in Philly, the Raptors twice gave up big leads and could not defend the basket on key plays at the end of the fourth quarter.  Jrue Holiday had a field day in the final frame and the perimeter defense could not stop him in overtime.  The Raptors essentially gift wrapped a victory for the Sixers.

The Raptors have now been leapfrogged by the likes of Orlando, Detroit and Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings and are still sit 5.5 games back of the current 8th seed Celtics.  Time is running out.  With two very difficult games this week against the Lakers and Miami Heat the Raptors may find themselves free-falling in the Eastern conference standings by as early as next week.

The raptors are beginning to fall farther and farther out of the playoff picture. Their lack of finish over the last week has seen them fall right out of the playoff conversation.

The raptors are beginning to fall farther and farther out of the playoff picture. Their lack of finish over the last week has seen them fall right out of the playoff conversation.

So what is wrong with this team?

What needs to change?

Firstly the Raptors need to get Kyle Lowry more involved in the game.  He needs to be the number one guy again.  Watching Jose play against quick opponents like Jrue Holiday really cemented the need for a stronger defensive presence on the perimeter.  Lowry is a much better defender and he was brought here to be that defender against elite point guards in the league.  Lowry was not good against the Sixers either, granted, but he has always got a better shot against the elite point guards in the league than Jose.  The Raptors will now face Steve Nash this week and Kyrie Irving next week.  Those two games need to have Lowry starting or, at the very least, playing the lion’s share of minutes.

The Raptors have done a terrible job protecting the ball, especially late in the game. While Calderon is generally good at protecting the ball, he isn’t anywhere near solid enough to defend quick athletic point guards like Jrue Holiday.  Lowry takes chances, but defends the perimeter much better than Calderon.  It is Kyle who needs to be on the floor for the Raptors at the end of the game, when it really matters.  Jose shoots well, but it is Lowry who is more likely to keep he defender in check.

Secondly, we need our bigs back.   I get the “Bargnani hate”, I’m not particularly fond of him right now either, but we sure could use his size and quickness on the defensive end.  If nothing else he provides greater opportunity to get Amir and Ed some rest.  Both have played incredibly well since being inserted into the starting lineup, but both play far too many minutes and it is beginning to catch up with them.  Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray have filled in admirably, but I’d much sooner see Bargnani and Jonas Valanciunas giving Amir and Ed a rest off the bench.

Size and toughness hasn’t been an issue for a little while. But we witnessed Carlos Boozer absolutely decimate the Raptors frontcourt on Wednesday and then Thad Young and Spencer Hawes both had strong games on Friday.  With games coming up against Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Big Baby Davis the Raptors frontcourt is going to be working hard. This unit of Davis and Johnson has held up the fort for the last few weeks and were instrumental in bringing this team back from the Eastern Conference basement, but they need some rest.

Let’s get Bargnani, despite his current villainy, back in this lineup backing up these two very tired front court players.  He’s not going anywhere in a trade just yet, so lets increase his value a little bit by bringin him in off the bench when he’s back and healthy.  And yes I did say “backing up” Amir and Ed.

Lastly, Dwane Casey needs to figure out what is going on with DeMar DeRozan.  It has been an up and down year for the Raptors star, but he hasn’t looked anything like himself the last two weeks.  His percentages are way down, he’s forcing up bad shots and is not playing within he flow of the offense.  He was a key component of the Raptors recent win streak, but he hasn’t been the same since the first half of the loss to Milwaukee.

Something is up

It could be adjustments to the change in point guards, the fact that so much of the offense now flows through the post, that opposing defenders are scouting his game a lot more than they were early in the season or maybe he’s just having a bad stretch.  Whatever it is, Dwane Casey needs to figure it out and get DeRozan back to his early season form.  If the Raptors are going to make a playoff push, they’ll need a more effective DeRozan.

Time is ticking for the Raptors.  If the playoffs really are the ultimate goal then they are really going to have to dig deep to find a way to get back on the winning side of things.  Whether a big trade is the answer, a major shakeup in the starting lineup or small adjustments, something needs to be done before the season is lost.

The time is now.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 13, 2013 · 11:16 pm

Opportunity Missed

Today’s game against Milwaukee was an opportunity to move into the playoff discussion, to cement this Raptors team as a playoff contender and to maybe give the fans of this playoff starved city a chance to believe that the playoffs weren’t a delusion of grandeur.

With a strong first quarter effort, the Raptors jumped out to an early 20 point lead.  But slowly and methodically, the Bucks came back.  They chipped away and chipped away at the Raptors lead and ultimately took over for good in the fourth quarter.  The Raptors, outside of Calderon, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis, lacked punch.  They had several opportunities to put the Bucks away and failed to do it.

A team with the likes of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings cannot be left alone.  The Raptors defensive effort relaxed and the hot shooting Bucks made them pay for it.  Even the likes of Mike Dunleavy had solid shooting efforts against the Raptor D and then there was John Henson who wins the Acie Earl Award for beasting.  The Raptors had absolutely no answer for him and without Jonas Valanciunas and Andrea Bargnani lacked the man power to shut him down.

All is not lost for the Raptors.  They are still within striking distance of the playoffs and if they can take advantage of their upcoming schedule they can and will get into that playoff discussion. They are also enjoying some absolutely inspired play from Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and Jose Calderon.  I’ve watched this team for a long time and have not seen these three look as good or as cohesive as they have this year.

The future is bright.

Zan For Three

What’s up With Lowry?

Kyle Lowry has been one of my favourite players over the last couple of years. I enjoyed watching him lead Houston to a late season surge last year and loved the way he started this season for the Raptors.  He’s fast, works hard on the defensive end and isn’t afraid to take it to the rack.

We haven’t seen that Kyle Lowry for a while.

Today we saw Kyle trying hard to be somebody that he wasn’t.  He looks lost.

I applaud him for taking his teammates words to heart when they were critical of his selfish play back in Utah.  I applaud that he is doing his best to get his teammates involved, but he has lost all of the things that made Kyle Lowry fantastic.

He needs to find himself again.  His issues are not about coming off the bench or getting more minutes on the court, they’re completely in his head.

Not even one of Amir Johnson's best games of the season could stop Monta Ellis and the Bucks from taking the wind out of the Raptors sails at the ACC on Sunday.

Not even one of Amir Johnson’s best games of the season could stop Monta Ellis and the Bucks from taking the wind out of the Raptors sails at the ACC on Sunday.

He is trying to force himself to be something he is not.  He has gotten away from the things that made him successful and as a result has not been nearly as effective.  What the Raptors really need him to be, if they are to make a strong push toward the postseason, is himself.  They need him to be the energetic force he was brought here to be.  They need him to shoot the ball, drive the lane and push the tempo, even if it is off the bench.

Lowry’s return to form will be a key to the Raptors fortunes for the rest of this season.

The Real DeMar 

DeMar DeRozan has been a revelation this year.  He has quieted his critics and proven to many that Bryan Colangelo wasn’t crazy or over shooting with the extension he was given before the season.

Over the last few weeks we have seen DeRozan go back and forth between good games and bad ones.  He’s played within the game and, then at times, has forced up shots.

Today we saw DeRozan play within the system and take charge of the game in the third quarter which helped the Raptors gain control of the game for a little while.  Then in the fourth he disappeared (with the rest of the team) and couldn’t hang on.

DeRozan needs to realize that this is his team now.  He is the leader.  He is number one.  There are times when he just needs to assume control of the offense.  He needs to be a little bit selfish and not out smart himself.

He is developing into a truly great player and needs to take that extra step of assuming leadership over this team.

To Trade or not to Trade? 

The rumours are swirling in Raptorland.  We are close to a playoff position, our general manager is on the hot seat and we have a few players that may be enticing to other teams.

Colangelo has a tough choice to make because the team is finally working together and playing as a team so adding another piece to that equation, no matter how talented, could disrupt all the things that are going right.  Then again adding a talented piece like Rudy Gay may be the nudge needed to get this team into the postseason.

The player that would make the most sense to send away (Andrea Bargnani) isn’t really someone who Colangelo is able to move and the one everyone wants (Jose Calderon) may be too valuable to the makeup of the current roster to trade away.

Definitely some tough decisions in the days ahead.

Zan of the Night

Amir Johnson – He plays through pain, works hard and does everything he is asked to do.  In a hockey centred town he really personifies everything Toronto wants to see in a basketball player.  Today he was once again one of the best Raptors on the floor and the chemistry he has developed with Calderon and Ed Davis is such a joy to watch in person.

Another contract that is looking a lot more like a bargain.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 5, 2013 · 5:54 pm

Becoming Number One

There has been no shortage of stories in Raptorland lately as they begin to put the pieces of their season back together again.  There has been the inspired play of Amir Johnson, the leadership of Jose Calderon and the energized return of both Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields. Of course, there is also the continued absence of Andrea Bargnani.

It is debatable which one of these stories has had the biggest impact in the Raptors recent turnaround.  But , possibly the most “feel good” story during the first half of the season (so far) may be the emergence of DeMar DeRozan.

Raptor fans have been waiting with bated breath for DeRozan to up his game and become the upper echelon player he was pegged to be when he was drafted 9th overall out of USC in 2009.

DeRozan has begun to assert himself as the Raptors team leader and number one option on offense. In the process he is proving his naysayers wrong and justifying his large contract extension.

DeRozan has begun to assert himself as the Raptors team leader and number one option on offense. In the process he is proving his naysayers wrong and justifying his large contract extension.

In the span of the last few months we have watched DeMar grow from a player, struggling to adjust to the pressures of being a top option, to a confident young man who is comfortably leading his team to some of the best basketball they have played in a long time.

When DeRozan first came to Toronto he was used as a complimentary player to the young core the Raptors had at the time.  At just 20 years of age and thrust into a starting role on a competitive Raptors squad, he was expected to take the ball to the rack off of cuts and provide steady defensive play.  He thrived in this complimentary role and earned the praise of then coach Sam Mitchell.

His efforts that first year were one of the key reasons the Raptors stayed in the playoff picture until the last day of the season.   In subsequent years he became an increased part of the Raptors offense and gained valuable experience along the way.

When Chris Bosh took his talents to South Beach, DeRozan was no longer looked at as a complimentary piece by the organization.  The Raps needed him to step up his game and become a top flight player to compliment the newly anointed number one, Andrea Bargnani. With the increased expectations, DeRozan struggled.

He was asked to become a top flight shooter, which he wasn’t yet. They needed him to shoot the three with some consistency, he could not.  They needed him to drive the lane more, but instead, he shied away from it.

As a top option in Toronto he garnered more attention from opposing defenses and he wasn’t ready for the adjustments he needed to make.  Questions began to swirl about whether DeRozan would ever become that top-tier player for Toronto, whether the Raptors would be better off letting him go as a free agent or packaging him in a trade.

Last season he was forced into an increased role when Andrea Bargnani went down with injury.  He needed, not only, to be a top scorer, but a team leader.  Though he struggled with his shot and continued to be marred by issues with his three-point range, the team developed an identity around him.  Much of this ‘change in culture’ was rightfully credited to Dwane Casey, but the Raptors were able to share the ball, play team defense and get along  with DeRozan as the number one option. DeMar is the type of unselfish player who is happy to defer to his teammates.  He isn’t a player that needs to have the ball in his hands all the time, the offense doesn’t need to flow through him.

Although DeRozan’s numbers were still mediocre on paper last year, he was beginning to show signs of maturity. He began taking the advice of coach Casey and kept driving the lane.  Slowly his free throw attempt numbers went up and he began to get more and more calls from the officials. Casey was tough on DeRozan, but in the process earned his respect.

“It was tough last year. Even though we did well on the defensive end, you still struggle at parts. You’re still learning. Casey is definitely good for us.”

Coach Casey has cracked the code with DeMar since arriving in Toronto and the forward has responded with inspired play.

Coach Casey has cracked the code with DeMar since arriving in Toronto and the forward has responded with inspired play.

This season, armed with a controversial 4 year contract extension, DeRozan has taken his game to the next level.  His numbers are better across the board, but it isn’t the modest increases in his percentages that have Raptor fans smiling; it’s the way he is carrying himself and his team.

Gone are the rushed shots taken early in the shot clock, the fear of driving the net and the reliance on a high number of mid-range jump shots.

Instead DeRozan is driving the net and demanding the respect of the leagues officials.  He is taking open jump shots within the flow of the offense, he’s using his size to take advantage of opposing defenses with impressive post-up moves and he is helping facilitate the ball movement that has inspired the Raptors recent play.

“I need to play within my game. I know if I get a shot in rhythm, I can knock it down. But for me, I’m an aggressive player. We’ve got a lot of 3-point shooters on this team. If I’m being aggressive, that can open up a 3-point shot for them.”

DeMar looks and sounds like a completely different player on the court.  He looks confident, aggressive and most of all he is taking control on the court. He is doing a better job of knowing when to shoot and when to make the extra pass.  He isn’t hesitating when he goes to the rim because he knows, if he keeps doing it, he’s gonna get the calls more times than not and he is learning how to exploit mismatches on both ends of the floor.

Dwane Casey has been impressed with his play and knows DeRozan is a key part of the Raptors future.  ”He’s one of our core guys”.

Much of the credit for the Raptors recent run of good games has been, very fairly placed on the play and leadership of Jose Calderon, but quietly DeMar DeRozan has emerged as a leader as well.

He is the player the team looks to for guidance.  The ball flows through him. But he isn’t just taking more shots, he is getting his teammates involved as well.  They trust him, his coaches trust him and mot importantly he trusts himself.

So far this season DeRozan has erased any doubt that may have lingered over the max extension.  If he keeps up this strong play, his extension may turn out to be a bargain.

He’s becoming everything you want in an on-court leader.

The scary part is,  he’s still getting better.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 16, 2012 · 11:09 pm

The Anderson Effect

The Toronto Raptors of the last two games are not the same team that lost 6 straight on the road and 13 of 14 dating back to Nov. 20th. This team is fighting, communicating with one another and getting results from unlikely sources.  On Sunday afternoon it was Jose Calderon, Ed Davis and Alan Anderson that stepped up, but the recent stretch has seen a change in the overall focus of the team. The Raps have been concentrating  on the defensive end of the ball, they’re sharing the ball well and are making smart basketball decisions. They also seem to be helping one another more and communicating on both ends.

So where did this change come from? The players did have a lengthy team meeting where they got a number of things off of their chest.  Perhaps that was the moment that caused this team to morph into what you now see on the court.

Perhaps it was addition by subtraction.  Both Andrea Bargnani and Kyle Lowry have been absent on this home stand due to injuries.  Both players were rumoured to be the focus of the vitriol during the team meeting and both players were admittedly not making good basketball decisions on their recent road trip.  Lowry was called out for calling his own number too much and Bargnani was called out for not delivering on the defensive end.  Bargnani has been the focus of so much negative press lately that his absence alone may have been a welcome blessing for both himself and the team.  Without the two stars, the Raptors look like a much improved team.

Or maybe it was the big meeting Casey, Colangelo and MLSE had this past week that was the impetus for change.  Maybe the players are playing with a bit of urgency because they know their job isn’t safe nor that of their coach or GM.

Alan Anderson doesn't always play extended minutes, but when he does, he makes the most out them. Another strong effort on Sunday was one of the keys to victory for the Raptors.

Alan Anderson doesn’t always play extended minutes, but when he does, he makes the most out them. Another strong effort on Sunday was one of the keys to victory for the Raptors.

One of the most subtle changes to the lineup during this time was the return of Alan Anderson.  He has played increasing minutes since his return and is doing the little things to get his teammates involved.  He makes the extra pass, fights for the ball, plays sound defense and encourages his teammates.

Anderson has been around a long time, bouncing in and out of the D-league, Europe and obscurity.  He came to the Raptors last season on a 10 day contract just hoping to do enough to earn another 10 days.  He did better than that, impressing Dwane Casey and Bryan Colangelo enough to offer him a brand new contract.

His work ethic, especially on the defensive end, is why he is a valuable asset to have hanging around a young team.  Anderson knows what is important for a team to focus on, knows how to play within a role and works hard every second he is on the floor. Having him on the court is like having a coach out there with the team.

Anderson, originally a point guard, is capable of playing many positions and has become known for his defensive intensity, a trait that surely earned the respect of Casey.  Casey often points to Anderson’s defensive effort as an example for the team to follow. 

When he is on the court the Raptors seem to have a clearer defensive identity. He energizes the rest of his team and gets them involved.  On Sunday he was one of the primary shooters, but he’s a smart player that plays within the flow of the game and knows when it is his place to take shots.  His timely play on Sunday was one of the keys to victory over the Rockets. It was his lay-up and free throws in the final minutes that sealed the victory for Toronto.

Anderson isn’t a player who is regularly asked to play heavy minutes.  This year he is averaging just over 20 minutes per game, but what he has been able to bring to the team in that time has been noticeable, just not always on the score sheet.  He puts defense first and this attitude is something that is beginning to rub off on his teammates. He is making use of his limited minutes and plays hard whenever his number is called.

This mentality could really come in handy for young players like Jonas Valanciunas or Terrence Ross, who have not seen consistent minutes this season.  They’re going to have to learn to make the most of their limited time on the court and earn those extra minutes.  Alan Anderson is a player they should watch and relish matching up against in practice.  He is not guaranteed minutes on this team, but earns them through his effort and commitment to the team philosophy.

If Jonas and Ross can put forth a more consistent effort on both ends of the floor and play within the flow of the game they are going to see a lot more minutes.  Ross, over the last two games, has looked more confident and has really let the game come to him.  In turn he has seen his minutes and production increase.  Anderson would be a great mentor for Ross.

Anderson also isn’t afraid to call out himself or his teammates when they need to be held accountable. This is a trait usually reserved for a teams’ star player or coach.   As of yet, not player on this team has become the vocal leader.  This may now be a role that Anderson has decided to take on.

Upon his return to the lineup this week he wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade when discussing the teams misfortunes: “Our defense isn’t consistent as it can be and it should be…we’re playing three-quarters, three-and-a-half quarters and we disappear. So I think my experience…can sustain that and help us out some more.”

Whether it has been his words or his actions on the court, Anderson has clearly been inspiring his teammates. The effort of the team in the last two games has been a complete turnaround from the “road trip from hell”.  The last two games they’ve given up under 100 points and have held their opponents to 40% shooting.  They’re holding things together as a team and Anderson has been a big part of this resurgence.

On Sunday Jose Calderon was the best player on the court, recording a triple-double and playing some of his best basketball this season, but Anderson and his style of play, are beginning to make a larger impact on this young Raptors squad.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | December 11, 2012 · 12:17 am

Where Do We Go From Here?

These are dark days for the Raptors and their fans.  Things have gone from bad, to worse, to downright awful really fast.  The Raptors now find themselves way out of contention and without many positives to rest their hat on.  Losses are piling up and the patience of the fan base is at an all-time low.  It’s getting Babcock bad.

Another loss in Portland, in what is fast becoming one of the worst road trips in recent memory, did nothing to instill any confidence in this team.

Raptor fans are openly wondering whether the team should “blow it up” and trade everyone with any ounce of value for whatever exchange they can get on the dollar and start fresh.  Or do they keep a select few of the young stars and try to retool for next season?

For the first time in his tenure as Raptor President and GM, Bryan Colangelo is facing the real possibility of being let go.

For the first time in his tenure as Raptor President and GM, Bryan Colangelo is facing the real possibility of being let go.

Fire the GM, fire the coach, trade all the players.  All of these bold suggestions have been made.

Many believe Bargnani is at the root of the problem and that he should be moved.  It is hard to argue with that logic as he has been disappointing at the best of times.  A change of scenery might be exactly what the doctor ordered for everyone involved.  There is still a good player in that seven-foot frame, but he will not become that player here.

But what becomes of everyone else? This isn’t the situation a lot of them signed up for.

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have shown themselves to be solid, dependable NBA players.  Players that would be welcome on any team, but also players that are still very young and could fit into the plans of a rebuilding club.

To make matters worse, this team doesn’t have a first round pick unless they finish with one of the top three selections.  So the draft isn’t even a guaranteed option.

So what to do?

The GM, the one that makes the decisions, is not signed to a contract past this summer and is unlikely to earn a renewal if this debauchery keeps up. What do you do with him? Fire him now? give him the rest of the year?

And what becomes of Dwane Casey? He was brought in only a year ago to fix the Raptors defense and to turn this team into a defensively sound unit.  Is it his fault he couldn’t turn Bargnani into Dirk Nowitzki? Is it his fault he had to build a defensive system around Jose Calderon? Shouldn’t he get the benefit of the doubt here?

The Raptors have a lot of questions and there are not easy answers.

They could look for trades where they bring back older veteran players with expiring contracts. Try to make a run at a game changer like Pau Gasol and attempt to turn this ship around.  They could bust out their “tank Nation” flags and try to muster up enough luck to bring in Shabazz Muhammad.

No matter which route they choose, the fans are gonna rebel.  Even without the NHL attendance will likely drop if the Raptors “blow it up”.

It says here that there is a lot of basketball to be played yet and the Raptors should consider holding on to Lowry, DeRozan and Jonas long-term.  Trade any and all others for picks, young players and expiring contracts and hope the season turns around.  Try to sneak into the playoffs or get close enough that the lost draft pick doesn’t hurt so much.

Trade Bargnani.  Or maybe better put: Free Bargnani.  let him go somewhere where there isn’t so much pressure.  Where he can just blend in, come off the bench and be a small part of a bigger puzzle. The fans are done with him and he doesn’t deserve to be berated in his home arena.  A change of scenery to anywhere else will do him and this team a world of good.

Casey has not had a successful second season as the head man for the Raptors, but despite the terrible year, he deserves another shot.

Casey has not had a successful second season as the head man for the Raptors, but despite the terrible year, he deserves another shot.

Keep Casey.  When he was brought here, he was asked to turn water into wine.  He was asked to bring his defensive system that worked wonders for the World Champion Mavericks and build it around Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon.  It just didn’t work.  He didn’t have a Tyson Chandler to back up Bargnani, he didn’t have a Shawn Marion to take on the best offensive players on opposing teams.  He could not turn Jose Calderon into Jason Kidd, he couldn’t turn Bargnani in Dirk. He was asked to do too much.  He needs to be given a chance to work with better players.  It was only one short year ago that fans were calling for Casey to be among the COY candidates.

It takes longer than a year to implement a systematic change, especially when the players you have don’t fit the mould of that system.

Give him another year.

Let Colangelo go.  He needs to fall on his sword for this team.  He put them together, he hasn’t gotten results. I know he will not be out of work long and there may not be a significantly better replacement out there, but he needs to take the fall for the team.  In the end, he is responsible for the shortcomings of this team.

Acquire draft picks.  There is no guarantee, no matter where we end up in the standings, that our pick won’t land  in OKC, so get a few more, stock up and get as many good young players as you can.

Don’t lose hope.  It’s hard not to in these dark days, but at the end of the dark tunnel is light, however slight it might be.  Jonas Valanciunas is going to be a good NBA talent. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are solid NBA talents.  Enjoy watching them for however long they remain Raptors. Draft picks are on the horizon and capspace is likely in the forseeable future.

Things will get better, they have to.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | October 28, 2012 · 10:27 pm

All Eyes on DeRozan

For the better part of three seasons DeMar DeRozan has been a little bit of everything.  He’s been a dependable defensive presence, an important offensive weapon, a go-to scorer and a team leader.  He’s also had his fair share of disappointment.

He has drawbacks to his game.  He has, over the season he’s been here shied away from contact, hasn’t been able to shoot the three consistently and hasn’t not shown he can be the predominant offensive weapon on a team.

He remains a puzzle.

This is the year Raptor fans finally find out what they have in DeMar DeRozan.  Is he a solid piece of the puzzle?, a superstar in waiting?, or just another serviceable swingman? Or, if you want to look at it more seriously; is he a part of this core going forward?

DeRozan needs to prove to the raptors and the entire NBA that he is more than just a “flashy dunker” and that he can get to the free throw line consistently.

Since he arrived in Toronto as the number 9 pick out of USC in 2009, there have been expectations, perhaps unfairly assigned.  Fans wanted to see a high flyer, a guy who could score in buckets, an heir apparent to Vince Carter, and a possible superstar in waiting.  Suffice it to say, a lot was expected.

So far DeRozan has been a little bit of everything, but hasn’t quite lived up to the hype of the fans.  He’s shown strong defensive effort since his rookie season, enough that he was able to win a starting role on a team fighting for the playoffs in his first year.  He is a great target for our point guards when coming off of a cut and he can throw it down with some of the best in the league.  If not for Blake Griffin’s infamous car jumping dunk, DeRozan would have won the dunk contest in 2011.

For stretches of time last year DeRozan seemed to be putting it all together.  Runs of high scoring nights and frequent trips to the stripe but then steps backward where he would disappear on offense crack under the pressure of being the number one or falter when guarded by a premier perimeter defender.  Without Andrea Bargnani to share the offensive duties, DeRozan was smothered by other teams’ defenses and was not as effective as he was with stronger support.

Coming into each of the last three seasons DeRozan hasn’t had to worry about his status as a starting wing.  And make no mistake about it; DeRozan will be the starting shooting guard for the Raptors once again on Oct. 31st.  But he’s got some competition on the bench waiting for their opportunity.

This competition will hopefully push DeRozan a little more than he has been over the last few years.  DeRozan has had it pretty easy so far in Toronto.  A guaranteed spot, very little internal competition and the benefit of the doubt when playing with an injury plagued roster.

This is the year raptor fans need to see DeRozan step up and fulfill the promise he showed when he was drafted three years ago.

There is now a wealth of options on Toronto’s bench this year that could spell DeRozan at the 2 guard for stretches during the year.  Landry Fields is more comfortable playing the two and is an excellent perimeter defender.  Alan Anderson has earned the respect of the coaching staff with his strong work ethic and attention to defense and he could see some minutes at the 2.  Also, with three strong point guards on the roster there will likely be times when Jose Calderon or John Lucas III find themselves sharing the back court with Kyle Lowry as both posses strong shooting ability, a skill DeRozan hasn’t shown to be a strength.

The biggest threat to DeRozan this year, however, might just be rookie shooting guard Terrence Ross, albeit likely over the long-term.  Ross is a strong defender and possesses a deadly long-range shot.  He is a great compliment to Kyle Lowry who pushes the ball up the floor and often kicks the ball out to the perimeter.  Ross is even more deadly off of a kick out because of how quickly he can release a shot.  It is that deadly shot and accuracy that make Ross such an attractive option at this position.

Casey agrees that competition this year at the two guard will help push DeRozan to greater heights. “He’s got competition all around …those guys are into him, pushing him…it’s going to be good for him to have that.”

This season will be a make or break year for DeRozan in Toronto. He is due for an extension and his agent will likely be looking for a large payday.   If the Raptors don’t make the playoffs and DeRozan struggles, if he doesn’t find that magic chemistry with Lowry and the rest of the team, he may find himself wearing a new uniform this time next year.

DeRozan is going to have to prove to fans and management that he can be the player that he was thought to be back when he was drafted.  DeRozan needs to be more than an average defender and a flashy dunker.  He needs to take that next step and cement his place in the Raptors future.

Shooting guards who produce the numbers DeRozan has over the last three years (14.1pts, 3.4 reb, 1.5 ast, 45.7 FG% and 20.6% 3-pt %) are not terribly difficult to find around the league for a much lower price than DeRozan is likely looking for.  If his stats last year (16.7 pts, 3.3 reb, 2.0 ast, 42.2 FG%, 26.1 3pt%)  are an indication of what kind of player he will be this year, then he could see his last year playing north of the border.  What the Raptors need is for DeMar to show he can be a three-point threat this year and score consistently in the paint.

Without that added aspect to his game, he will eventually sit in favour of better shooters or will ultimately be replaced by a cheaper option.

He has been working hard over the summer to strengthen his game.  Dwane Casey offered, when asked about DeRozan: “He did a great job this summer of really putting on strength and right now he’s doing a great job of hitting the guys first, creating contact, not being afraid of getting into the paint, and it’s going to pay big dividends for him.”

This year we will finally find out what DeMar DeRozan is made of.

DeRozan has the ability and skills to be a superstar in this league, but needs to put it together soon or the Raptors will quickly run out of patience.

It’s time we all find out what exactly Toronto has in DeRozan.  One thing is for certain, however, he will be the architect of his own destiny.

This could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

Or not.

***

ZTH

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by | October 18, 2012 · 10:30 pm

Raptors Finally Get the Point

The Raptors and their fans are no strangers to a good old-fashioned point guard controversy.  Whether it was ‘Forderon’ back in the good old days of 2007 or ‘Caldless’ last season, Raptor fans seem to love debating and second guessing the decisions pertaining to the point guard position.  With three strong point guards on the roster this year, it is likely to be the most heated controversy yet even though the Raptors went out in the offseason and acquired a clear number one point guard.

The Players

Kyle Lowry

Jose Calderon

John Lucas III

The Deal:

Kyle Lowry scored his first pre-season points off a steal against the Wizards in the paint and took it all the way down the court for a nice, transition lay-up.  So began Lowry’s time as a Toronto Raptor.

The way he played in the preseason win on Wednesday night is likely a sign of what is to come.  Lowry took the ball to the hoop, distributed well and played fairly strong defense against a weakened Wizard backcourt.  He also struggled at times.

He started the game on Wednesday night with Valanciunas, DeRozan, Fields and Bargnani; a place he is almost guaranteed to find himself on opening night.

Lowry was not Colangelo’s first choice this offseason, but he might just be the right choice for the franchise going forward.  He takes risks, but can score, distributes, drives the lane and most importantly defends the basket well (something sure to make a fan out of Dwane Casey).

Despite the fact he was brought in to start for the Raps, don’t expect the point guard position to be devoid of controversy.  Incumbant Jose Calderon was reportedly not happy with being demoted to number two (though he has changed his tune since the start of training camp) and the emergence of John Lucas III throughout training camp should give the Raptors a very deep, albeit crowded, point.

Calderon has been the Raptors starter for the last five years and has played steady dependable basketball on the offensive end.  He runs the high screen and roll well and has developed a strong kinship with many of the current Raptor players, most notably Amir Johnson; a player he will likely be teamed up with on the Raptors strong second unit.

As a backup Calderon should be successful.  He will not have to match up against number one point guards, he will get plenty of minutes to focus on what he does well and when teamed with another point guard will be moved into a position where his best asset (his shooting) can be best utilized.

Calderon would instantly become one of the best backup point guards in the league and provides a pivotal counterpoint to Lowry.  Lowry will drive the lane, score in bunches, play an uptempo game but will take more risks.  Calderon protects the rock and distributes well and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, but slows the pace of the game down. He makes smart, calculated choices.  He is a great ying to Lowry’s Yang.

John Lucas III is looking like he will make distributing minutes at the point a difficult job for Dwane Casey.

This could be a beautiful partnership except it’s not as simple as a two-horse race.  John Lucas III was also brought in this off-season and with his inspired play thus far in the pre-season, he seems destined to make himself part of the point guard conversation throughout the season.

Lucas was stellar last year in Chicago, playing key minutes when Derrick Rose was lost to injury.  He has shown himself to be a leader and someone who can handle heavy minutes if called upon. He can score in bunches, distribute well and has played well on the defensive side thus far.  Lucas will push Calderon for minutes off the bench and just may force Colangelo to make a move earlier than expected.

So far this pre-season Lucas has been solid, playing with great amounts of energy every time he touched the court and evoking praise from a difficult fanbase to impress.

Prediction

With three strong point guards on the roster, the Raptors appear to have an embarrassment of riches at the point.  The challenge for Dwane Casey is going  to be distributing minutes.  Expect Lowry to get the Lion’s share of minutes, but watch for Calderon playing a bit of 2 off the bench and on the offensive end in close games.  Also anticipate Lucas getting more minutes than was originally planned.  If there is to be a point guard controversy in Toronto it will likely be for backup minutes.

Lucas will push Calderon.  Hopefully competition will breed better play for everyone.

Dwane Casey is going to have his work cut out for him managing these three players this year.  It is very possible Colangelo will eliminate this problem for him by dealing Calderon before the end of the season.

No matter which way you cut it, the Raptors have turned the point guard position into a strength for the first time in long time.  Three Point guards capable of starting is something the Raptors have never had the luxury of.

I’m pretty sure, regardless of the results, we will all debate who plays and when they play all season long.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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